Multi Hazard Disaster Risk Assessment: A Step Towards Disaster Resilience
Geography and You|Issue 139 - 140, 2020
GVV Sarma, Member Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority, talks to G’nY about building multi-disaster resilient infrastructure through comprehensive and integrated guidelines by involving entire geographic and socio-economic ecosystems.
Multi Hazard Disaster Risk Assessment: A Step Towards Disaster Resilience

G’nY. What is the multi-hazard disaster risk reduction approach? How is it different from other approaches used in disaster risk reduction?

The national vision as enshrined in the National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009 is to build a safe and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster oriented and technology-driven strategy through a culture of prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response. Thus, since the beginning, we have focused our approach towards multi-hazard disaster risk reduction.

Multi-hazard disaster risk reduction approach is to assess a composite risk from all hazards so that integrated planning can be undertaken. Looking at hazards in isolation may result in a situation where mitigation measures proposed as a solution for one risk may create vulnerability for another hazard.

National Disaster Management Plan, 2016 also highlights the multi-hazard approach at all stages of disaster risk reduction. It emphasizes upon risk assessment to be carried out with a multi-hazard concept leading to foolproof land use planning, promoting skill development for multi-hazard resistant construction, strengthening ability of communities to manage and cope with disasters based on a multi-hazard approach and also on ensuring that multi-hazard resistant features are incorporated in planning and execution of social housing schemes.

G’nY. How can the complexities that arise from multi-hazard assessment be resolved at a regional scale? Can threats be weighted and ranked?

This story is from the Issue 139 - 140, 2020 edition of Geography and You.

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This story is from the Issue 139 - 140, 2020 edition of Geography and You.

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